Management system, computer system, and method of providing information

ABSTRACT

A management system includes a plurality of analyzers; and a computer system connected to the analyzers via a network, wherein each of the analyzers comprises: a data transmitter for transmitting data produced by the analyzer to the computer system via the network, and wherein the computer system includes a memory under control of a processor, the memory storing instructions enabling the processor to carry out operations, comprising: (a) receiving a plurality of data transmitted from the data transmitters of the plurality of analyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result used for determining a determination condition for making a determination as to whether or not a notification to a user of the analyzer is required based on the plurality of received data; and (c) outputting the aggregate result. A computer system and a method of providing information are also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/322,185 filed on Jan. 30, 2009, which claimspriority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-020011 filed Jan. 31,2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a management system having a managementsystem connected to a plurality of analysis devices via a network, acomputer system, and a method of providing information.

BACKGROUND

A remote support system is known in which a plurality of analysisdevices is connected to a management device via a network. For example,U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002-128801 discloses a remotesupport system in which a management device collects quality controldata obtained by measuring a quality control substance from a pluralityof analysis devices and calculates an aggregate result for each analysisdevice and for each quality control substance. According to the remotesupport system disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2002-128801, the management device analyzes the quality control data,and when a quality control result is outside a predetermined range orwhen worsening of the quality control data is expected, a notificationthereof is sent to a user thereof.

As described above, the remote support system of U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2002-128801 is extremely useful because the managementdevice is capable of detecting a trouble in the analysis device based ona predetermined setting to send a notification thereof to a userthereof, so that the trouble occurring in the analysis device can bepromptly treated. However, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2002-128801 does not provide any suggestion as to how the settings fordetecting the trouble in the analysis device can be determined. For thisreason, there is a desire to obtain useful information for determiningthe settings. For example, when the settings are too loose, informationon a trouble which is not required to be notified to a user may benotified to the user, imposing an unnecessary burden to the user. On theother hand, when the settings are too strict, information on a troublewhich must have been notified to the user might not be notified to theusers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appendedclaims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within thissummary.

A first aspect of the present invention is a management system,comprising: a plurality of analyzers; and a computer system connected tothe analyzers via a network, wherein each of the analyzers comprises: adata transmitter for transmitting data produced by the analyzer to thecomputer system via the network, and wherein the computer systemincludes a memory under control of a processor, the memory storinginstructions enabling the processor to carry out operations, comprising:(a)receiving a plurality of data transmitted from the data transmittersof the plurality of analyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result usedfor determining a determination condition for making a determination asto whether or not a notification to a user of the analyzer is requiredbased on the plurality of received data; and (c) outputting theaggregate result.

A second aspect of the present invention is a computer system connectedto a plurality of analyzers via a network, comprising:a memory undercontrol of a processor, the memory storing instructions enabling theprocessor to carry out operations, wherein the instructionscomprise,(a)receiving a plurality of data transmitted from the pluralityof analyzers; (b)generating an aggregate result used for determining adetermination condition for making a determination as to whether or nota notification to a user of the analyzer is required based on theplurality of received data; and (c)outputting the generated aggregateresult.

A third aspect of the present invention is a method of providinginformation for determining whether or not a notification to a user isrequired based on data received from a plurality of analyzers,comprising: (a) receiving data transmitted from the plurality ofanalyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result used for determining adetermination condition for making a determination as to whether or nota notification to a user of the analyzer is required based on thereceived data; and (c) outputting the generated aggregate result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configurationof a management system for managing a plurality of analysis devicesaccording to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an analysis device illustrated in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main body ofthe analysis device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of a control deviceillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a hardware configuration diagram of a management deviceillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram of a terminal equipment of acall center illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary procedure of a mainprocess performed by the management system illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of quality control datawhich are transmitted from the analysis device illustrated in FIG. 1 tothe management device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a quality control errordetermination condition database provided to the management deviceillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog screen forupdating the quality control error determination condition.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of quality control errordetermination result data which are transmitted from the managementdevice illustrated in FIG. 1 to a terminal equipment of the call center.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary procedure of a graphcreating process of the management device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a graph that is outputin step S277 and displayed on the terminal equipment 300 of the callcenter 203.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a graph that is outputin step S285 and displayed on the terminal equipment 300 of the callcenter 203.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of error information thatis transmitted from the analysis device illustrated in FIG. 1 to themanagement device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of error informationdetermination condition database provided to the management deviceillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device errordetermination result that is transmitted from the management deviceillustrated in FIG. 1 to the terminal equipment of the call center.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a graph that is outputin step S285 and displayed on the terminal equipment 300 of the callcenter 203.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog screen forupdating a quality control error determination condition on an analysisdevice side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the drawings.

First, a description of a management system according to an embodimentof the present invention will be provided in detail with reference tothe drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management systemaccording to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the managementsystem according to the present embodiment includes an analysis device100 a installed in a facility A, an analysis device 100 b installed in afacility B, an analysis device 100 c installed in a facility C, anetwork 103 such as the Internet, a management device 200 installed in acustomer support center 202, a network 201 such as a LAN, and aplurality of terminal equipments 300 installed in a call center 203. Itis to be noted that a plurality of analysis devices 100 a, 100 b, and100 c may be installed in one facility. A description of the processingto the analysis device 100 a will be provided hereinbelow by way of anexample.

The customer support center 202 is a facility of a vendor who providesmaintenance services for the analysis device 100 a and has an engineer205 capable of operating the management device 200.

The call center 203 is a facility which is provided in the customersupport center 202 to enable the engineer 204 of the call center 203 tomake calls to a user 107 of the analysis device 100 a to cope withfailures or inquiries. The user 107 of the analysis device 100 a takes ameasurement of a quality control substance 106 by means of the analysisdevice 100 a prior to a measurement of a sample of a human subject. Thequality control substance 106 is a sample prepared using a human blood,as a raw material, so as to include a predetermined component in apredetermined concentration, and the e-CHECK (available from SysmexCorporation) may be used, for example. When the quality controlsubstance 106 is measured by the analysis device 100 a, an analysisresult thereof is transmitted to the management device 200 via thenetworks 103 and 201. When the analysis result (quality control data) ofthe quality control substance 106 transmitted from the analysis device100 a has exceeded a predetermined range, the management device 200sends a notification thereof to the terminal equipment 300. When thenotification from the management device 200 is received by the terminalequipment 300, the engineer 204 makes a call to the user 107 of thefacility A being a sender of the analysis result and resolves a troubleoccurring in the analysis device 100 a.

Moreover, upon occurrence of an error during the measurement, theanalysis device 100 a transmits error information thereof to themanagement device 200 via the networks 103 and 201. When the errorinformation satisfies a predetermined condition, the management device200 sends a notification thereof to the terminal equipment 300. When thenotification has been received by the terminal equipment 300 from themanagement device 200, the engineer 204 makes a call to the user 107 ofthe analysis device 100 a being the sender of the analysis result toresolve a trouble occurring in the analysis device 100 a. As theanalysis device 100 a, a variety of sample analysis devices are used,e.g., a biochemical analysis device, a blood cell counter, a bloodcoagulation measurement device, an immunological measurement device, anda urinary analysis device. The analysis device 100 a to be connected tothe management device 200 is not limited to one type, but a plurality oftypes of devices such as a combination of a biochemical analysis deviceand a blood cell counter may be connected to the management device. Inthis embodiment, a description of an example where only a blood cellcounter is connected will be provided for the sake of simpledescription.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration ofthe analysis device 100 a. The analysis device 100 a is a blood cellcounter used for a blood examination, and is configured by an analysisdevice main body 101 and a control device 102. The analysis device mainbody 101 is provided with a transfer section 111 capable of transferringa subject to an aspiratory position of the analysis device main body.For example, when the quality control substance 106 has been measured inthe analysis device 100 a, the analysis device main body 101 transmitsmeasurement data to the control device 102, the measurement data beingobtained by aspirating and measuring the quality control substance 106transferred to the subject aspiratory position of the analysis devicemain body 101 by the transfer section 111.

The control device 102 performs an analysis on the received measurementdata within a main body thereof 102 b and displays the quality controldata 240 (see FIG. 8) obtained through the analysis on a display 102 a.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the analysis device main body 101.

The analysis device main body 101 is provided with the transfer section111, a subject ID reading section 112, a subject arrival confirmationsection 113, a subject aspiration section 114, a sample preparationsection 115, a detection section 116, a control section 117, and acommunication interface 118.

The subject ID reading section 112 is provided with a bar code reader112 a. Moreover, the subject arrival confirmation section 113 and thesubject aspiration section 114 are provided with sensors 113 a and 114a, respectively. Furthermore, the detection section 116 is provided witha white blood cell detection section 116 a, a red blood cell detectionsection 116 b, and an HGB detection section 116 c.

The transfer section 111 is configured to be capable of transferring thesubject to the subject ID reading section 112 and the subject aspirationsection 114. The subject ID reading section 112 is configured such thata bar code attached on the subject transferred by the transfer section111 is read by the bar code reader 112 a, and the transfer section 111transfers the subject to the subject aspiration section 114 after thebar code of the subject has been read by the bar code reader 112 a. Whenthe arrival of the subject on the subject aspiration section 114 hasbeen confirmed by the sensor 113 a of the subject arrival confirmationsection 113, the subject aspiration section 114 performs an aspirationof the subject.

The subject aspiration section 114 is configured to monitor whether ornot a predetermined amount of the subject has been aspirated by means ofthe sensor 114 a. The subject aspirated in the subject aspirationsection 114 is mixed with a measurement reagent in the samplepreparation section 115, and measurement data are obtained by therespective detection sections of the detection section 116. Themeasurement data include measurement data of a white blood cell countobtained by the white blood cell detection section 116 a, measurementdata of a red blood cell count obtained by the red blood cell detectionsection 116 b, and measurement data of a hemoglobin amount in bloodobtained by the HUB detection section 116 c. The control section 117 isconfigured to transmit the obtained measurement data to the controldevice 102 via the communication interface 118.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control device 102. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the control device 102 is a computer which is mainly configuredby the display 102 a, the main body 102 b, and an input device 102 c.

The main body 102 b is mainly configured by a CPU 120, a ROM 121, a RAM122, a hard disk 123, an I/O interface 124, a reading device 125, acommunication interface 126, and an image output interface 127. The CPU120, the ROM 121, the RAM 122, the hard disk 123, the I/O interface 124,the reading device 125, the communication interface 126, and the imageoutput interface 127 are connected with each other via a bus 128 so asto be capable of performing data communication between them.

The CPU 120 is capable of executing a computer program stored in the ROM121 and a computer program loaded to the RAM 122. When an applicationprogram is executed by the CPU 120, later-described functional blocksare realized, and thus a computer functions as the control device 102.

The ROM 121 is configured by a mask ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, orthe like, and stores therein a computer program executed by the CPU 120and data used by the computer program.

The RAM 122 is configured by an SRAM, a DRAM, or the like. The RAM 122is used for reading the computer program recorded on the ROM 121 and thehard disk 123. Moreover, the RAM 122 is used as a work area of the CPU120 when the computer program is executed.

The hard disk 123 has installed therein a variety of computer programsto be executed by the CPU 120, such as an operating system or anapplication program, and data for use in execution of the computerprograms.

The reading device 125 is configured by a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROMdrive, a DVD-ROM drive, or the like. The reading device 125 is capableof reading the computer program or the data recorded on a portablerecording medium 130.

The I/O interface 124 is configured by a serial interface such as a USB,an IEEE 1394, or an RS-232C, a parallel interface such as an SCSI, anIDE, or an IEEE 1284, an analog interface such as a D/A converter or anA/D converter, or the like. The I/O interface 124 has connected theretothe input device 102 c that includes a keyboard and a mouse, so thatdata can be input to the main body 102 b by an operator using the inputdevice 102 c.

The communication interface 126 is an Ethernet (the registeredtrademark) interface, for example, and the control device 102 is capableof transmitting or receiving data to or from the analysis device mainbody 101 connected thereto via the network 104 using a predeterminedcommunication protocol by means of the communication interface 126.

The image output interface 127 is connected to the display 102 aconfigured by an LCD, a CRT, or the like, and is configured to output animage signal corresponding to image data sent from the CPU 120 to thedisplay 102 a. The display 102 a displays an image (screen) inaccordance with the input image signal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the management device 200. The managementdevice 200 is configured by a computer which is mainly configured by amain body 200 a, a display 200 b, and an input device 200 c.

The main body 200 a is mainly configured by a CPU 220, a ROM 221, a RAM222, a hard disk 223, an I/O interface 224, a reading device 225, acommunication interface 226, and an image output interface 227. The CPU220, the ROM 221, the RAM 222, the hard disk 223, the I/O interface 224,the reading device 225, the communication interface 226, and the imageoutput interface 227 are connected with each other via a bus 228 so asto be capable of performing data communication between them.

The CPU 220 is capable of executing a computer program stored in the ROM221 and a computer program loaded to the RAM 222. When an applicationprogram is executed by the CPU 220, later-described functional blocksare realized, and thus a computer functions as the management device201.

The ROM 221 is configured by a mask ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, orthe like, and stores therein a computer program executed by the CPU 220and data used by the computer program.

The RAM 222 is configured by an SRAM, a DRAM, or the like. The RAM 222is used for reading the computer program recorded on the ROM 221 and thehard disk 223. Moreover, the RAM 222 is used as a work area of the CPU220 when the computer program is executed.

The hard disk 223 has installed therein a variety of computer programsto be executed by the CPU 220, such as an operating system or anapplication program, and data for use in execution of the computerprograms.

The reading device 225 is configured by a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROMdrive, a DVD-ROM drive, or the like. The reading device 225 is capableof reading the computer program or the data 230 a recorded on a portablerecording medium 230.

The application program does not only need to be provided by theportable recording medium 230 but also may be provided over anelectronic telecommunication line (wired or wireless) from an externaldevice communicably connected to a computer via the electronictelecommunication line. For example, the application program may beinstalled in a hard disk of a server computer on the Internet, so thatthe management device 200 makes an access to the server computer,downloads the computer program, and then installs the computer programin the hard disk 223.

Furthermore, an operating system capable of providing a graphical userinterface, e.g., the Windows (the registered trademark) manufactured andsold by Microsoft Corporation (US), is installed in the hard disk 223.In the following description, the application program according to thepresent embodiment is assumed as running on the operating system.

In addition, the hard disk 223 stores, in a predetermined area thereof,a quality control result data database 223 a, a quality control errordetermination condition database 223 b, a quality control aggregateresult database 223 c, an error information database 223 d, an errorinformation determination condition database 223 e, an error informationaggregate result database 223 f, and an application program 223 g.

The application program 223 g includes a notification determinationprocessing program 223 h, a graph creation processing program 223 i, anda determination condition update program 223 j. The quality controlresult data database 223 a stores therein the quality control datareceived from the analysis device 100 a and a determination result whichhas been determined as requiring a notification to a user based on aquality control error determination condition. The quality control errordetermination condition database 223 b stores therein a determinationcondition for making a determination on the quality control datareceived from the analysis device 100 a as to whether or not anotification to the user is required. The quality control aggregateresult database 223 c stores therein an output result of the graphcreation processing program 223 i with respect to the determinationresult stored in the quality control result database 223 a. The errorinformation database 223 d stores therein the error information receivedfrom the management device 100 and a determination result which has beendetermined as requiring a notification to a user based on the errorinformation determination condition. The error information determinationcondition database 223 e stores therein a determination condition formaking a determination on the error information received from theanalysis device 100 a as to whether or not a notification to the user isrequired.

The error information aggregate result 223 f stores therein an outputresult of the graph creation processing program 223 i with respect tothe determination result stored in the error information database 223 d.The notification determination processing program 223 h is configured tomake a determination on the quality control data and the errorinformation received from the analysis device 100 a as to whether anotification to a user is required. The graph creation processingprogram 223 i is configured to create and output a graph of thedetermination results stored in the quality control result database 223a and the error information database 223 d. The determination conditionupdate program 223 j is configured to update the error determinationconditions stored in the quality control error determination conditiondatabase 223 b and the error information determination conditiondatabase 223 e.

The I/O interface 224 is configured by a serial interface such as a USB,an IEEE 1394, or an RS-232C, a parallel interface such as an SCSI, anIDE, or an IEEE 1284, an analog interface such as a D/A converter or anA/D converter, or the like. The I/O interface 224 has connected theretothe input device 200 c that includes a keyboard and a mouse, so thatdata can be input to the main body 200 a by an operator using the inputdevice 200 c.

The communication interface 226 is an Ethernet (the registeredtrademark) interface, for example, and the management device 200 iscapable of transmitting or receiving data to or from the analysis device100 a connected thereto via the network 103 using a predeterminedcommunication protocol and the terminal equipment of the call centerconnected thereto via the network 201, by means of the communicationinterface 226.

The image output interface 227 is connected to the display 200 bconfigured by an LCD, a CRT, or the like, and is configured to output animage signal corresponding to image data sent from the CPU 220 to thedisplay 200 b. The display 200 b displays an image (screen) inaccordance with the input image signal.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the terminal equipment 300 of the callcenter 203. The terminal equipment 300 of the call center 203 is acomputer which is mainly configured by a main body 300 a, a display 300b, and an input device 300 c.

The main body 300 a is provided with a CPU 320, a ROM 321, a RAM 322, ahard disk 323, an I/O interface 324, a reading device 325, acommunication interface 326, and an image output interface 327. The CPU320, the ROM 321, the RAM 322, the hard disk 323, the I/O interface 324,the reading device 325, the communication interface 326, and the imageoutput interface 327 are connected with each other via a bus 328 so asto be capable of performing data communication between them.

The CPU 320 is capable of executing a computer program stored in the ROM321 and a computer program loaded to the RAM 322. When an applicationprogram is executed by the CPU 320, later-described functional blocksare realized, and thus a computer functions as the terminal equipment300 of the call center 203.

The ROM 321 is configured by a mask ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, orthe like, and stores therein a computer program executed by the CPU 320and data used by the computer program.

The RAM 322 is configured by an SRAM, a DRAM, or the like. The RAM 322is used for reading the computer program recorded on the ROM 321 and thehard disk 323. Moreover, the RAM 322 is used as a work area of the CPU320 when the computer program is executed.

The hard disk 323 has installed therein a variety of computer programsto be executed by the CPU 320, such as an operating system or anapplication program, and data for use in execution of the computerprograms.

The reading device 325 is configured by a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROMdrive, a DVD-ROM drive, or the like. The reading device 325 is capableof reading the computer program or the data 330 a recorded on a portablerecording medium 330.

The I/O interface 324 is configured by a serial interface such as a USB,an IEEE 1394, or an RS-232C, a parallel interface such as an SCSI, anIDE, or an IEEE 1284, an analog interface such as a D/A converter or anA/D converter, or the like. The I/O interface 324 has connected theretothe input device 300 c that includes a keyboard and a mouse, so thatdata can be input to the main body 300 a by an operator using the inputdevice 300 c.

The communication interface 326 is an Ethernet (the registeredtrademark) interface, for example, and the terminal equipment 300 of thecall center 203 is capable of transmitting or receiving data to or fromthe management device 200 connected thereto via the network 201 using apredetermined communication protocol by means of the communicationinterface 326.

The image output interface 327 is connected to the display 300 bconfigured by an LCD, a CRT, or the like, and is configured to output animage signal corresponding to image data sent from the CPU 320 to thedisplay 300 b. The display 300 b displays an image (screen) inaccordance with the input image signal.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the processing executed by the CPUs120, 220 and 320 of the control device, the management device, and theterminal equipment. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the CPU 120 executesprocessing of making a determination in step S100 as to whether or notan error has occurred in the analysis device main body 101, i.e.,whether or not the error information has been received from the analysisdevice main body 101.

In the analysis device main body 101, when the control section 117 hasdetermined that it was impossible to read the bar code by means of thebar code reader 112 a, the control section 117 transmits informationrepresenting a bar code read error to the control device 102. Moreover,when the control section 117 has determined that it was impossible todetect the arrival of the subject by means of the sensor 113 a, in spiteof a fact that the subject has actually been arrived, the controlsection 117 transmits error information representing a subject arrivalconfirmation error to the control device 102. Furthermore, when thecontrol section 117 has determined that it was impossible to detect theaspiration of the subject by means of the sensor 114 a, in spite of afact that the subject has actually been aspirated, the control section117 transmits error information representing a subject aspiration errorto the control device 102.

When an error is determined to have occurred in step S100 (No in stepS100), the CPU 120 stores therein the received error information (stepS105). On the other hand, when the error is determined not to haveoccurred in step S100 (Yes in step S100), the CPU 120 makes adetermination in step S101 as to whether or not the measurement data ofthe quality control substance 106 have been received from the analysisdevice main body 101.

The analysis device main body 101 is configured such that uponmeasurement of the quality control substance 106, the measurement dataare transmitted from the detection section 117 to the control section117 and the control section 117 transmits the measurement data to thecontrol device 102.

When the measurement data are determined to have been received in stepS101 (Yes in step S101), the CPU 120 analyzes the measurement data toacquire the quality control data 240 in step S102. Then, the CPU 120stores in step S103 the quality control data 240 acquired in step S102in the hard disk 123 and transmits in step S104 the quality control data240 to the management device 200.

FIG. 8 illustrates the quality control data 240 transmitted in step S104from the control device 102 to the management device 200. The qualitycontrol data 240 include device information 241, information 242 on thequality control substance 106, a quality control measurement date 243,and a quality control measurement result 244.

The device information 241 includes a facility name 241 a being the nameof a facility in which the analysis device is installed, a device name241 b, a PS Code 241 c appended to each analysis device main body 101 atthe time of factory shipment, and a serial number 241 d.

The information 242 on the quality control substance 106 includes aquality control substance name 242 a, a level 242 b and a lot number 242c of the quality control substance 106, which are read from the bar codeappended to the quality control substance 106 by means of a handy barcode reader or input by the input device 102 c of the control device102.

The quality control substance name 242 a is information representing aname of the quality control substance 106. The level 242 b isinformation representing a concentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and thelike, of the quality control substance 106. The lot number 242 c isinformation representing a lot at the time of manufacture of the qualitycontrol substance 106.

The quality control measurement date 243 is information representing adate 243 a and a time 243 b of the receipt of the measurement data instep S101.

The quality control measurement result 244 is information representingthe number of quality control measurement items 244 a and a measurementresult of each item. For example, in FIG. 8, the number of qualitycontrol measurement items 244 a shows that there are three measurementitems including an RBC 244 b, an HGB 244 c, and a WBC 244 d. Moreover,the measurement result of each item shows that 4,470,000 cells/μL is forRBC, 13.5 g/L is for HGB, and 384 cells/μL is for WBC.

When the data received from the analysis device 100 a via the networks103 and 201 are determined to be the quality control data 240 in stepS200 (Yes in step S200), the CPU 220 of the management device 200 storesthe received quality control data 240 in an area of the quality controlresult database 223 a of the hard disk 223 in step S201. Then, the CPU220 activates the notification determination processing program 223 h tomake a determination on the quality control data 240 received from theanalysis device 100 a as to whether or not a notification is to be sentto a user of the analysis device 100 a by referring to a userdetermination availability 255 of the quality control errordetermination condition 250, stored in the quality control errordetermination condition database 223 b in step S202.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating the quality control errordetermination condition 250 stored in the quality control errordetermination condition database 223 b. The quality control errordetermination condition 250 includes a material name 251 for identifyingthe quality control substance 106, a level 252, a measurement item 253,an abnormality determination rule 254, a user determination availability255, and an external cooperative error determination availability 256.

The material name 251 is information representing a name of the qualitycontrol substance 106. The level 251 is information representing aconcentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and the like, of the quality controlsubstance 106. The measurement item 253 is information representing aquality control measurement item. The abnormality determination rule 254is information representing a determination item that makes adetermination as to whether or not a notification to a user is required.For example, an action limit over 254 a determines that a notificationto the user is required when the quality control data 240 obtained froma plurality of analysis devices 100 a have exceeded a valuecorresponding to an average thereof±an allowable percentage. A trend 254b determines that a notification to the user is required when thequality control data 240 have exceeded an allowable range and showedfour consecutive ascending or descending tendencies in the samedirection. The user determination availability 255 is a setting that isset by the user of the analysis device 100 a, and is informationrepresenting whether or not a determination is to be made based on eachabnormality determination rule 254 upon receipt of the quality controldata 240.

The external cooperative error determination availability 256 is asetting that is set by the engineer 205 of the customer support center202, and is information representing whether or not a determination ismade based on each abnormality determination rule 254 upon receipt ofthe quality control data 240.

Thereafter, in step S203, the CPU 220 makes a determination on thequality control data 240 as to whether the notification to the user isto be sent by referring to the external cooperative error determinationavailability 256 of the quality control error determination condition250.

In the present embodiment, a description has been made for aconfiguration in which a determination is made in step S202 as towhether or not a notification is to be sent to the user of the analysisdevice 100 a by referring to the user determination availability 255,and thereafter, a determination is made in step S203 as to whether anotification is to be sent to the user of the analysis device 100 a byreferring to the external cooperative error determination availability256. However, a configuration may be employed in which either one of thedetermination conditions may be selected so that a determination is madeas to whether the notification is to be sent to the user of the analysisdevice 100 a by referring to the selected determination condition.

When the CPU 220 has determined in step S220 that the notification tothe user is required in the determination process of steps S202 or S203(Yes in step S220), the CPU 220 stores the quality control result 260(see FIG. 11) in the quality control result database 223 a of the harddisk 223 in step S221, determines the terminal equipment 300 to be adestination of the notification from a plurality of terminal equipments300 of the call center 203, and sends a notification, in step S223, thatit is necessary to send a notification to the user of the terminalequipment 300 of the call center 203 via the network 201 by referring tothe notification destination determined in step S222. On the other hand,when the CPU 220 has determined in step S220 that the notification tothe user is not required (No in step S220), the processes of steps S221to S223 are not performed and the flow proceeds to the step S230.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating the quality control result 260sent from the CPU 220 of the management device 200 to the terminalequipment 300 of the call center 203 in step S223. The quality controlresult 260 includes device information 261, quality control substanceinformation 262, a measurement item 263, a user determination condition264, an engineer determination condition 265, a quality controlmeasurement date 266, a quality control result 267, and an error name268.

The device information 261 includes a device name 261 b, a PS Code 261 cappended to each analysis device main body 101 at the time of factoryshipment, and a serial number 261 d.

The quality control substance information 262 includes a quality controlsubstance name 262 a, a level 262 b and a lot number 262 c of thequality control substance 106.

The quality control substance name 262 a is information representing aname of the quality control substance 106. The level 262 b isinformation representing a concentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and thelike, of the quality control substance 106. The lot number 262 c isinformation representing a lot at the time of manufacture. Themeasurement item 263 is information representing a quality controlmeasurement item for the quality control data 240 received by the CPU220, which have been determined by the notification determinationprocessing program 223 h as requiring the notification to the user. Theuser determination condition 264 and the engineer determinationcondition 265 are information representing the availability of eachdetermination condition. The quality control measurement date 266 isinformation representing the date and time of completion of the qualitycontrol measurement. The quality control result 267 and the error name268 are information representing the measurement result of themeasurement item 263, which has been determined to be abnormal, and theabnormality determination rule 254, which has been determined asrequiring the notification to the user, in the notificationdetermination process of step S202 or S203.

Next, when the CPU 320 of the terminal equipment 300 of the call center203 has determined in step S300 that the data received from themanagement device 200 via the network 201 are the quality control result260 as illustrated in FIG. 11 (Yes in step S300), the CPU 320 displaysthe quality control result 260 as illustrated in FIG. 11 on the display300 b via the image output interface 327 in step S301, thereby informingthat a notification to a user is required.

Thereafter, a determination is made in step S320 by the CPU 320 as towhether it has been instructed to shut down the operating system (OS) bythe selection of shutdown from a start menu of the Windows (theregistered trademark) being the OS of the terminal equipment 300 of thecall center 203. When it has been determined in step S320 that the OSshutdown instruction has not been received (No in step S320), the flowreturns to step S300. On the other hand, when it has been determined instep S320 that the OS shutdown instruction has been received (Yes instep S320), the flow proceeds to step S321, where the process isterminated by the CPU 320 shutting down the Windows (the registeredtrademark) being the OS of the terminal equipment 300 of the call center203.

On the other hand, when the data have been determined in step S300 notto be the quality control result 260 as illustrated in FIG. 11 (No instep S300), the process of step S310 is performed.

Next, a description of the processes which are performed when the errorinformation 280 has been transmitted from the analysis device 100 a tothe management device 200 via the networks 103 and 201, and thereafter,a notification is sent from the management device 200 to the terminalequipment 300 of the call center 203 via the network 201 will beprovided with reference to FIG. 7.

When it has been determined in step S106 that a shutdown instruction hasbeen sent to the analysis device main body 101 from a user thereof (Yesin step S106), the CPU 120 transmits the error information 280 asillustrated in FIG. 15 to the management device 200 via the networks 103and 201 in step S107.

On the other hand, when it has been determined in step S106 that theshutdown instruction has not been sent to the analysis device main body101 (No in step S106), the CPU 120 returns its flow to step S100 and theprocesses of steps S100 to S105 are repeated.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating the error information 280transmitted from the analysis device 100 a to the management device 200.The error information 280 sent from the analysis device 100 a includes aserial number 281, device information 282, an error occurrence date andtime 283, and an error code 284. The device information 282 is providedin order to identify the analysis device 100 a and includes a facilityname 282 a being the name of a facility in which the analysis device 100a is installed, a name 282 b of the analysis device 100 a, a PS Code 282c appended to each analysis device main body at the time of factoryshipment, and a serial number 282 d. The error occurrence date and time283 includes an error occurrence date 283 a and an error occurrence time283 b. The error code 284 represents identification information of anerror occurred, so that a type of the error received from the analysisdevice 100 a can be uniquely identified.

When the CPU 220 of the management device 200 has determined in stepS211 that the data received from the analysis device 100 a via thenetworks 103 and 201 are the error information 280 as illustrated inFIG. 15 (Yes in step S211), the CPU 220 stores the received errorinformation 280 in the error information database 223 d of the hard disk223 in step S212. Then, the CPU 220 executes the notificationdetermination processing program 223 h in step S213 to make adetermination as to whether or not a notification is to be sent to theuser of the analysis device 100 a by referring to the error informationdetermination condition 290 of the error information determinationcondition database 223 e as illustrated in FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the error information determinationcondition 290 stored in the error information determination conditiondatabase 223 e. The error information determination condition 290includes a device name 291, an error name 292, an error code 293, and anaction limit 294. The device name 291 is information representing a nameof the analysis device 100 a. The error name 292 is informationrepresenting a name of the error. The error code 293 is informationrepresenting identification information uniquely corresponding to theerror name 292. The action limit 294 is information representing thelimit of the number of times the error as specified in the error code293 is allowed to occur per one day, the information being used in sucha way that the notification to the user is determined to be necessarywhen the error information 280 received from the analysis device 100 ashowed the number of occurrences of the error has exceeded the number asspecified in the action limit 294.

A description will be provided by way of example in which the error name292 of the error information determination condition 290 illustrated inFIG. 16 is a short sample error. The short sample error represents anerror occurring when it is determined that the sensor 114 a wasimpossible to sufficiently aspirate a subject, in spite of a fact thatthe control section 117 is aspirating the subject. When the error hasoccurred 10 times or more per one day, it is determined that thenotification to the user is required.

When the notification determination processing program 223 h executed instep S213 has determined in step S220 that the notification to the useris required (Yes in step S220), the error information determinationresult 295 as illustrated in FIG. 17 is stored in the error informationdatabase 223 d of the hard disk 223 in step S221. Then, the terminalequipment 300 of the call center 203, which will be a notificationdestination, is determined in step S222, and a notification that thenotification to the user is to be required is sent in step S223 to theterminal equipment 300 of the call center 203 via the network 201 byreferring to the notification destination determined in step S222.

On the other hand, when the notification to the user has been determinednot to be necessary in step S220 (No in step S220), the CPU 220determines whether or not a predetermined period has been elapsed instep S230, while the processes of steps S221 to S223 are not executed.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating the error informationdetermination result 295 sent from the management device 200 to theterminal equipment 300 of the call center 203.

The error information determination result 295 sent from the managementdevice 200 to the terminal equipment 300 of the call center 203 includesdevice information 296, an error occurrence date and time 297, errorinformation 298, and an action limit 299. The device information 296includes a facility name 296 a being the name of a facility in which theanalysis device 100 a is installed, a name 296 b of the analysis device100 a, a PS Code 296 c appended to each analysis device main body at thetime of factory shipment, and a serial number 296 d, for identificationof the analysis device 100 a. The error occurrence date and time 297includes information representing the date and time of occurrence of anerror. The error information 298 includes an error name 298 a and anerror code 298 b. The error name 298 a is information representing aname of an error occurring in the analysis device 100 a. The error code298 b is information representing identification information of an errorcorresponding to the error name.

The action limit 299 is information representing the limit of the numberof times the error as specified by the error information 298 is allowedto occur per one day, the information being used in such a way that thenotification to the user is determined to be necessary when the errorinformation 298 showed the number of occurrences of the error hasexceeded the number as specified in the action limit 299.

Next, when the CPU 320 of the terminal equipment 300 of the call center203 has determined in step S310 that the data received from themanagement device 200 via the network 201 are the error informationdetermination result 295 as illustrated in FIG. 17 (Yes in step S310),the CPU 320 displays the error information determination result 295 asillustrated in FIG. 17 on the display 300 b via the image outputinterface 327 in step S311.

On the other hand, when the data have been determined not to be theerror information determination result 295 as illustrated in FIG. 17 (Noin step S310), the CPU 320 executes the process of step S320.

Thereafter, a determination is made in step S320 by the CPU 320 as towhether it has been instructed to shut down the operating system (OS) bythe selection of shutdown from a start menu of the Windows (theregistered trademark) being the OS of the terminal equipment 300 of thecall center 203. When it has been determined in step S320 that the OSshutdown instruction has not been received (No in step S320), the flowreturns to step S300. On the other hand, when it has been determined instep S320 that the OS shutdown instruction has been received (Yes instep S320), the flow proceeds to step S321, where the process isterminated by the CPU 320 shutting down the Windows (the registeredtrademark) being the OS of the terminal equipment 300 of the call center203.

Moreover, when the CPU 220 has determined in step S230 that apredetermined period (e.g., one month) has been elapsed after previousgraph creation processing (Yes in step S230), the CPU 220 executes thegraph creation processing program 223 i illustrated in FIG. 5 in stepS231 to collect the quality control result 260 stored in the qualitycontrol result database 223 a and the error information determinationresult 295 stored in the error information database 223 d to be outputto a predetermined area of the hard disk 223. After execution of thegraph creation processing (step S231), the flow returns to step S200.

On the other hand, when the CPU 220 has determined in step S230 that thepredetermined period has not been elapsed (No in step S230), the flowproceeds to step S232.

Next, when there is an update request to update any one of the userdetermination availability 255, the external cooperative errordetermination availability 256 of the quality control errordetermination condition 250 illustrated in FIG. 9 and the action limit294 of the error information determination condition 290 from theengineer 205 of the customer support center 202 in step S232 (Yes instep S232), the CPU 220 executes the determination condition updateprogram 223 j in step S233 to update the determination condition storedin the quality control error determination condition database 223 b orthe error information determination condition database 223 e of the harddisk 223 as illustrated in FIG. 5 based on the received determinationcondition.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a screen on which the engineer 205 of thecustomer support center 202 performs the update of the quality controlerror determination condition database 223 b illustrated in FIG. 5.

A quality control error determination condition setting dialog 310mainly includes a material name 311, a level 312, a measurement item313, an abnormality determination rule 314, user determinationavailability 315, external cooperative error determination availability316, an OK button 317, and a Cancel button 318.

The material name 311 is information representing a name of the qualitycontrol substance 106. The level 312 is information representing aconcentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and the like, of the quality controlsubstance 106. The measurement item 313 is information representing aquality control measurement item. The abnormality determination rule 314is information representing a determination item that makes adetermination as to whether or not a notification to a user is required.The user determination availability 315 is a setting that is set by theuser of the analysis device 100 a, and includes a user determinationavailability check box 315 a. The user determination availability checkbox 315 a is information representing that a determination as to thenecessity of sending the notification to the user is to be performedwhen the box is checked (selected) while the determination as to thenecessity of sending the notification to the user is not to be performedwhen the box is not checked. The external cooperative errordetermination availability 316 is a setting that is set by the engineer205 of the customer support center 202, and includes an externalcooperative error determination availability check box 316 a. Theexternal cooperative error determination availability check box 316 a isinformation representing that a determination as to the necessity ofsending the notification to the user is to be performed when the box ischecked (selected) while the determination as to the necessity ofsending the notification to the user is not to be performed when the boxis not checked.

When the OK button 317 is pressed, the contents of the quality controlerror determination condition database 223 b are updated to the settingcontents being displayed on the quality control error determinationcondition setting dialog 310, and the quality control errordetermination condition setting dialog 310 is closed. When the Cancelbutton 318 is pressed, the contents of the quality control errordetermination condition database 223 b are not updated, and the qualitycontrol error determination condition setting dialog 310 is closed.

For example, the quality control error determination condition settingdialog 310 illustrated in FIG. 10 shows that for a material havingsettings wherein the material name 311 is quality control substance A,the level 312 is LOW, the measurement item 313 is RBC, and theabnormality determination rule 314 is action limit over, when thequality control data 240 have been received from the analysis device 100a, the determination as to the necessity of the notification to the useris performed in step S202, while the determination as to the necessityof the notification to the user is not performed in step S203.

On the other hand, when the CPU 220 has determined in step S232 thatthere is no update request for any of the user determinationavailability 255 and the external cooperative error determinationavailability 256 of the quality control error determination condition250 illustrated in FIG. 9 and the action limit 294 of the errorinformation determination condition 290 illustrated in FIG. 16 (No instep S232), the flow returns to step S200.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure of the graph creationprocessing in step S231. The CPU 220 acquires the quality control result260 for a predetermined period from the quality control result database223 a in step S271 and then classifies the quality control result 260for each device name 261 b from the acquired result in step S272.

Next, in step S273, the quality control result 260 is classified foreach quality control substance name 262 a from the quality controlresult 260 classified in step S272, and the quality control result 260is further classified for each level 262 b representing theconcentration of the quality control substance 106. Furthermore, theclassified quality control result 260 is classified for each measurementitem 263 in step S274, and the classified quality control result 260 isfurther classified for each error name 268 in step S275.

In this way, a plurality of groups is generated: e.g., a group (Group 1)wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to apresent graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, thequality control substance name is quality control substance A, the levelis LOW, the measurement item is RBC, and the error name is action limitover; a group (Group 2) wherein a target period is from a previous graphcreation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device nameis device A. the quality control substance name is quality controlsubstance A, the level is LOW, the measurement item is RBC, and theerror name is trend; a group (Group 3) wherein a target period is from aprevious graph creation date to a present graph creation date, theanalysis device name is device A, the quality control substance name isquality control substance B, the level is NORMAL, the measurement itemis HGB, and the error name is action limit over; and the like.

Thereafter, in step S276, a notification determination rate iscalculated for each of the groups generated in step S275 by using thefollowing formula (1).

Notification Determination Rate=(Number of Notifications to User)/(TotalNumber of Quality Control Data)   (1)

Herein, the number of notifications to user corresponds to the number ofquality control results 260 contained in each of the groups. Moreover,the total number of quality control data corresponds to the number ofquality control data 240 for each level of the quality control substancereceived from the plurality of analysis devices 100 a during the targetperiod.

For example, when the notification determination rate for each of thegroups is calculated, in calculation of the notification determinationrate of Groups 1 and 2, the total number of quality control datarepresents the number of quality control data 240 contained in a groupwherein the target period is from the previous graph creation date tothe present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A,the quality control substance name is quality control substance A, andthe level is LOW. Moreover, in calculation of the notificationdetermination rate of Group 3, the total number of quality control datarepresents the number of quality control data 240 contained in a groupwherein the target period is from the previous graph creation date tothe present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A,the quality control substance name is quality control substance B, andthe level is NORMAL.

In step S277, the notification determination rate calculated in stepS276 is output as an accumulated bar graph for each measurement item263. Furthermore, in step S278, the graph output in step S277 is storedin a predetermined area of the quality control aggregate result database223 c.

FIG. 13 is an example of a graph output in step S277 and displayed tothe terminal equipment 300 of the call center 203. On an upper portionof the graph, an aggregate period 401, an analysis device name 402, aquality control substance name 403, and a quality control substancelevel 404 are displayed.

In a graph portion 400, an accumulated bar graph showing thenotification determination rate for each item of the abnormalitydetermination rule 254 of the quality control data 240 is displayed.Herein, RBC 405 is information representing a quality controlmeasurement item. Reference numeral 406 is information representing thenotification determination rate of the action limit of the RBC 405.Reference numeral 407 is information representing the notificationdetermination rate of the trend of the RBC 405. Moreover, HGB 408 isinformation representing a quality control measurement item. Referencenumeral 409 is information representing the notification determinationrate of the action limit of the HGB 408. Reference numeral 410 isinformation representing the notification determination rate of thetrend of the HGB 408.

As will be understood from the quality control measurement aggregateresult for device A on April illustrated in FIG. 13, for the qualitycontrol substance A having a concentration level of 1, the qualitycontrol item RBC shows a high notification determination rate based onthe trend compared with the HGB. For example, when the high notificationdetermination rate results from poor storage stability of the RBC of thequality control substance A, the quality control substance 106 itselfhas a problem but the analysis device 100 a does not have any problem.Therefore, it can be determined that the determination condition on thetrend of the RBC is to be loosened to decrease the number ofnotifications to the user.

Next, the CPU 220 acquires the error information determination result295 for a predetermined period from the error information database 223 dof the hard disk 223 in step S281 and then classifies the errorinformation determination result 295 for each name 296 b of the analysisdevice 100 a from the acquired error information determination result295 in step S282. Subsequently, in step S283, the error informationdetermination result 295 is classified for each error information 298from the error information determination result 295 classified in stepS282.

In this way, a plurality of groups is generated: e.g., a group (Group 4)wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to apresent graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, andthe error name is short sample; a group (Group 5) wherein a targetperiod is from a previous graph creation date to a present graphcreation date, the analysis device name is device A, and the error nameis whole blood aspiration motor stoppage abnormality; a group (Group 6)wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to apresent graph creation date, the analysis device name is device B, andthe error name is short sample; and the like.

Thereafter, in step S284, a notification determination rate iscalculated for each of the groups generated in step S283 by using thefollowing formula (2).

Notification Determination Rate=(Number of Determinations as RequiringNotification)/(Total Number of Device Names 296b being Connected toManagement Device 200)

(2)

Herein, the number of determinations as requiring notificationcorresponds to the number of error information determination results 295contained in each of the groups. Moreover, the total number of devicenames 296 b being connected to the management device 200 corresponds tothe number of analysis devices 100 a having the same device name, beingconnected to the management device 200.

For example, when the notification determination rate for each of thegroups is calculated, in calculation of the notification determinationrate of Groups 4 and 5, the total number of device names 296 b beingconnected to the management device 200 represents the number of analysisdevices 100 a having the analysis device name of device A among theanalysis devices 100 a being connected to the management device 200.Moreover, in calculation of the notification determination rate of Group6, the total number of device names 296 b being connected to themanagement device 200 represents the number of analysis devices 100 ahaving the analysis device name of device B among the analysis devices100 a being connected to the management device 200.

In step S285, the notification determination rate calculated in stepS284 is output as an accumulated bar graph for each device name 296 b.Furthermore, in step S286, the graph output in step S285 is stored in apredetermined area of the error information aggregate result database223E

FIG. 14 is an example of a graph output in step S285 and displayed tothe terminal equipment 300 of the call center 203. On an upper portionof the graph, an aggregate period 451 and an analysis device name 452are displayed.

Reference numeral 453 is information representing the notificationdetermination rate of a short sample error. The short sample errorrepresents an error occurring when the subject aspiration section 114has detected that the sensor 114 a was impossible to sufficientlyaspirate a subject at the time of the subject aspiration.

Reference numeral 454 is information representing the notificationdetermination rate of a blank error. The blank error represents an erroroccurring when the detection section 116 has detected that the sample ofa previous subject is left in the detection section 116 by apredetermined concentration or more.

Reference numeral 455 is information representing the notificationdetermination rate of a rack operation abnormality error. The rackoperation abnormality error is an error occurring when the transfersection 111 was unable to normally transfer a subject to the subject IDreading section 112 or the subject aspiration section 114.

Moreover, reference numeral 456 is information representing thenotification determination rate of a subject ID reading error. Thesubject ID reading error is an error occurring when it was impossible toread a bar code appended to the subject by means of the bar code reader112 a.

It can, therefore, be expected from FIG. 14, showing the notificationdetermination rate of an error (rack operation abnormality) related tothe transfer section 111 being 0.1 percent, that for example, when thenotification determination rate is increasing compared with a previousmonth, the frequency of occurrence of the error related to the transfersection 111 will increase with time. Therefore, in order to reduce ashutdown time of the analysis device 100 a on next months, it isnecessary to decrease the setting value of the action limit 294 for therack operation abnormality of the error information determinationcondition 290 for the error related to the transfer section 111 anddispatch the engineer 204 to a facility being determined as requiring anotification, thereby preventing serious failures.

Moreover, when it is determined that notifications have been frequentlysent to the user of the analysis device 100 a in which the short sampleerror has occurred due to a reason other than a failure of the device,such as a reason that the amount of a subject filled in a test tube issmaller than a prescribed amount, it may be determined that it isnecessary to increase the setting value of the action limit 294 for theshort sample of the error information determination condition 290,thereby decreasing the number of notifications to the user.

Furthermore, since it is possible to obtain information on which unitshowed a high error occurrence frequency, it is possible to know whichunit preferentially requires an improvement design in future devicedevelopment, which becomes useful information in development of anefficient device capable of reducing a shutdown time of the analysisdevice 100 a.

In the embodiment described above, a description has been made for aconfiguration in which when the quality control data 240 and the errorinformation 280 received from the analysis device 100 a have beendetermined as requiring a notification to a user, the management device200 of the customer support center 202 sends a notification thereof tothe terminal equipment 300 of the call center 203. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this and the terminal equipment 300 of thecall center 203 may not be provided, for example. In such a case, aconfiguration may be employed in which when the notification to the useris determined to be necessary, the management device 200 sends anotification thereof to the control device 102. This notification may besent in such a way that a method of coping with the occurred error issent via an email. Owing to such a configuration, it is possible to senda notification of occurrence of a trouble to a user even in the absenceof the engineer 204 of the call center 203 to thereby eliminate furtherprocessing in the call center 203, and thus, the trouble can be promptlynotified to the user of the analysis device 100 a.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, a description has been made for aconfiguration in which when the management device 200 of the customersupport center 202 has received the error information 280, the receivederror information 280 is stored in the error information database 223 dof the hard disk 223 in step S212 of the flow chart illustrated in FIG.7, and the notification determination processing program 223 h isexecuted in step S213 to make a determination as to whether or not thenotification to the user is required. However, a configuration may beemployed in which the CPU 220 does not execute the determinationprocessing of step S213.

That is, when the CPU 220 of the management device 200 has determined instep S211 that the data received from the analysis device 100 a via thenetworks 103 and 201 are the error information 280 as illustrated inFIG. 15 (Yes in step S211), the CPU 220 stores the received errorinformation 280 in the error information database 223 d of the hard disk223 in step S212.

Next, when the CPU 220 has determined in step S230 that a predeterminedperiod (e.g., one month) has been elapsed after previous graph creationprocessing (Yes in step S230), the CPU 220 executes the graph creationprocessing program 223 i illustrated in FIG. 5 in step S231.

Then, the CPU 220 acquires the error information 280 for a predeterminedperiod from the error information database 223 d of the hard disk 223 instep S281 and classifies the error information 280 for each name 282 bof the analysis device 100 a from the acquired error information 280 instep S282. Subsequently, in step S283, the error information 280 isclassified for each error code 284 from the error information 280classified in step S282.

In this way, a plurality of groups is generated: e.g., a group (Group 7)wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to apresent graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, andthe error name is short sample; a group (Group 8) wherein a targetperiod is from a previous graph creation date to a present graphcreation date, the analysis device name is device A, and the error nameis whole blood aspiration motor stoppage abnormality; a group (Group 9)wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to apresent graph creation date, the analysis device name is device B, andthe error name is short sample; and the like.

Thereafter, in step S284, an abnormality occurrence rate is calculatedfor each of the groups generated in step S283 by using the followingformula (3).

Abnormality Occurrence Rate=(Number of Errors Received from AnalysisDevice 100a)/(Total Number of Device Names 296b being Connected toManagement Device 200)   (3)

Herein, the number of errors received from the analysis device 100 acorresponds to the number of error codes 284 contained in each of thegroups.

Moreover, the total number of device names 296 b being connected to themanagement device 200 corresponds to the number of analysis devices 100a having the same device name, being connected to the management device200.

For example, when the abnormality occurrence rate for each of the groupsis calculated, in calculation of the abnormality occurrence rate ofGroups 7 and 8, the total number of device names 296 b being connectedto the management device 200 represents the number of analysis devices100 a having the analysis device name of device A among the analysisdevices 100 a being connected to the management device 200. Moreover, incalculation of the abnormality occurrence rate of Group 9, the totalnumber of device names 296 b being connected to the management device200 represents the number of analysis devices 100 a having the analysisdevice name of device B among the analysis devices 100 a being connectedto the management device 200.

In step S285, the abnormality occurrence rate calculated in step S284 isoutput as an accumulated bar graph for each device name 296 b.Furthermore, in step S286, the graph output in step S285 is stored in apredetermined area of the error information aggregate result database223 f.

FIG. 18 is an example of a graph output in step S285 and displayed tothe terminal equipment 300 of the call center 203. On an upper portionof the graph, an aggregate period 461 and an analysis device name 462are displayed. Reference numeral 463 is information representing theabnormality occurrence rate of a short sample error. Reference numeral464 is information representing the abnormality occurrence rate of ablank error. Reference numeral 465 is information representing theabnormality occurrence rate of a rack operation abnormality error.Reference numeral 466 is information representing the abnormalityoccurrence rate of a subject ID reading error. Owing to such aconfiguration, since it is possible to identify an error showing a highoccurrence frequency for each analysis device, it is possible to knowwhich unit preferentially requires an improvement design in futuredevice development, which becomes useful information in development ofan efficient device capable of reducing a shutdown time of the analysisdevice 100 a.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, a description has been made for aconfiguration in which the engineer 205 of the customer support center202 performs the update of the quality control error determinationcondition database 223 b. However, a configuration may be employed inwhich the user 107 of the analysis device 100 a performs the update ofthe quality control error determination condition database 223 b. Forexample, in response to a request sent from the analysis device 100 a tothe management device 200, an analysis device-side quality control errordetermination condition setting dialog 350, as illustrated in FIG. 19,for updating the quality control error determination condition database223 b may be displayed on the display 102 a of the control device 102.

The analysis device-side quality control error determination conditionsetting dialog 350 mainly includes a user determination conditionsetting grid 351, an OK button 357, and a Cancel button 358.

The user determination condition setting grid 351 includes a materialname 352, a level 353, a measurement item 354, an abnormalitydetermination rule 355, and user determination availability 356. Thematerial name 352 is information representing a name of the qualitycontrol substance 106. The level 353 is information representing aconcentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and the like, of the quality controlsubstance 106. The measurement item 354 is information representing aquality control measurement item. The abnormality determination rule 355is information representing a determination item that makes adetermination as to whether or not a notification to a user is required.The user determination availability 356 is a setting that is set by theuser of the analysis device 100 a, and includes a user determinationavailability check box 356 a. The user determination availability checkbox 356 a is information representing that a determination as to thenecessity of sending the notification to the user is to be performedwhen the box is checked (selected) while the determination as to thenecessity of sending the notification to the user is not to be performedwhen the box is not checked. When the OK button 357 is pressed, thecontents of the quality control error determination condition database223 b are updated to the setting contents being displayed on the qualitycontrol error determination condition setting dialog 350, and thequality control error determination condition setting dialog 350 isclosed. When the Cancel button 358 is pressed, the contents of thequality control error determination condition database 223 b are notupdated, and the quality control error determination condition settingdialog 350 is closed.

For example, the analysis device-side quality control errordetermination condition setting dialog 350 illustrated in FIG. 19 showsthat for a material having settings wherein the material name 352 isquality control substance A, the level 353 is LOW, the measurement item354 is RBC, and the abnormality determination rule 355 is action limitover or trend, when the management device 200 has received the qualitycontrol data 240 from the analysis device 100 a, the determination as tothe necessity of the notification to the user is performed by the CPU220 of the management device 200 in step S202. Meanwhile, for a materialhaving settings wherein the material name 352 is quality controlsubstance A, the level 353 is NORMAL, the measurement item 354 is HGB,and the abnormality determination rule 355 is action limit over, thedetermination as to the necessity of the notification to the user is notperformed in step S202.

In addition, a description has been made for a configuration in whichthe analysis device-side quality control error determination conditionsetting dialog 350 in FIG. 19 selects the availability of eachabnormality determination rule 355. For example, when the qualitycontrol data 240 received from the analysis device 100 a have exceededan average±an allowable percentage of the quality control data 240obtained from the plurality of analysis devices 100 a, the action limitover 355 a determines that the notification to the user is required.However, a configuration may be employed in which the allowablepercentage may be changed: that is, the settings of the abnormalitydetermination rule 355 may be changed.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a description has been made fora configuration in which when the notification to the user has beendetermined to be necessary in the determination processing on thequality control data 240 received from the analysis device 100 a, theterminal equipment 300 of the call center 203 is determined as thenotification destination in step S222. However, a configuration may beemployed in which the analysis device 100 a is determined as thenotification destination when the user determination availability 255shows that the notification to the user is required, while the terminalequipment 300 of the call center 203 is determined as the notificationdestination when the external cooperative error determinationavailability 256 shows that the notification to the user is required.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a description has been made fora configuration in which the CPU 220 executes the graph creationprocessing of step S231 when a predetermined period has been elapsedfrom the completion of the previous graph creation processing of stepS230. However, a configuration may be employed in which the CPU 220executes the graph creation processing of step S231 when the engineer205 of the customer support center 202 has instructed to execute thegraph creation processing program 223 i.

What is claimed is:
 1. A management system, comprising: a plurality ofanalyzers; and a computer system connected to the analyzers via network,wherein each of the analyzers comprises: a data transmitter fortransmitting data produced by the analyzer to the computer system viathe network, and wherein the computer system includes a memory undercontrol of a processor, the memory storing instructions enabling theprocessor to carry out operations, comprising: (a) receiving a pluralityof data transmitted from the data transmitters of the plurality ofanalyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result used for determining adetermination condition for making a determination as to whether or nota notification to a user of the analyzer is required based on theplurality of received data; and (c) outputting the aggregate result. 2.The management system according to claim 1, wherein the data received inthe operation (a) includes a quality control data which is obtained bymeasuring a quality control substance by the analyzer.
 3. The managementsystem according to claim 2, wherein the instructions further comprise:(d) determining whether or not the notification to the user is requiredbased on the quality control data received in the operation (a); andwherein the operation (b) includes a step of aggregating the number oftimes the notification to the user is determined to be necessary in theoperation (d).
 4. The management system according to claim 1, whereinthe data received in the operation (a) includes an error informationoccurring in the analyzer.
 5. The management system according to claim4, wherein the operation (b) includes a step of aggregating the numberof times the error information has been received in the operation (a).6. The management system according to claim 4, wherein the instructionsfurther comprise: (e) determining whether or not the notification to theuser is required based on the error information received in theoperation (a); and wherein the operation (b) includes a step ofaggregating the number of times the notification to the user isnecessary in the operation (e).
 7. The management system according toclaim 1, wherein the memory further stores: a determination conditionfor making a determination as to whether or not the notification to theuser is required based on the data received in the operation (a), andwherein the instructions further comprise: (f) updating thedetermination condition stored in the memory.
 8. The management systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the operation (c) includes a step ofoutputting the aggregate result to the analyzer, and wherein each of theanalyzers further comprises a second computer system, including a secondmemory under control of a processor, the second memory storinginstructions enabling the processor to carry out operations, comprising:(g) receiving the aggregate result output in the operation (c); and (h)updating the determination condition stored in the second memory.
 9. Themanagement system according to claim 8, wherein the updating of thedetermination condition includes inputting a setting as to whether ornot the determination condition is to be used.
 10. A computer systemconnected to a plurality of analyzers via a network, comprising: amemory under control of a processor, the memory storing instructionsenabling the processor to carry out operations, wherein the instructionscomprise, (a) receiving a plurality of data transmitted from theplurality of analyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result used fordetermining a determination condition for making a determination as towhether or not a notification to a user of the analyzer is requiredbased on the plurality of received data; and (c) outputting thegenerated aggregate result.
 11. The computer system according to claim10, wherein the data received in the operation (a) include qualitycontrol data which is obtained by measuring a quality control substanceby the analyzer.
 12. The computer system according to claim 11, whereinthe instructions further comprise: (d) determining whether or not thenotification to the user is required based on the quality control datareceived in the operation (a); and wherein the operation (b) includes astep of aggregating the number of times the notification to the user isdetermined to be necessary in the operation (d).
 13. The computer systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the data received in the operation (a)includes error information on an error occurring in the analyzer. 14.The computer system according to claim 13, wherein the operation (b)includes a step of aggregating the number of times the error informationhas been received in the operation (a).
 15. The computer systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise: (e)determining whether or not the notification to the user is requiredbased on the error information received in the operation (a); andwherein the operation (b) includes a step of aggregating the number oftimes the notification to the user is determined to be necessary in theoperation (e).
 16. The computer system according to claim 10, whereinthe memory further stores: a determination condition for making adetermination as to whether or not the notification to the user isrequired based on the data received in the operation (a), and whereinthe instructions further comprise: (f) updating the determinationcondition stored in the memory.
 17. The computer system according toclaim 10, wherein the operation (c) includes a step of outputting theaggregate result to the analyzer, and wherein each of the analyzersfurther comprises a second computer system, including a second memoryunder control of a second processor, the second memory storinginstructions enabling the second processor to carry out operations,comprising: (g) receiving the aggregate result output in the operation(c); and (h) updating the determination condition stored in the secondmemory.
 18. The computer system according to claim 17, wherein theupdating of the determination condition includes inputting a setting asto whether or not the determination condition is to be used.
 19. Amethod of providing information for determining whether or not anotification to a user is required based on data received from aplurality of analyzers, comprising: (a) receiving data transmitted fromthe plurality of analyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result used fordetermining a determination condition for making a determination as towhether or not a notification to a user of the analyzer is requiredbased on the received data; and (c) outputting the generated aggregateresult.